Hastings man lovingly tends grave of Victorian pet rabbit

Hollington man Sid Saunders has devoted time to tending the gravestone of a pet rabbit who died in the Victorian era.
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The rabbit’s tiny head-stone is located in Marline Wood at the top of Marline Valley in St Leonards.

It is engraved with the words: ‘In memory of the Little Duchie. Born August 1869, Died December 1882.

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Sid, aged 75, a retired Hastings bus driver and well known local photographer, said: “I have been cleaning it since 2014, the year after my wife passed away.

Sid Saunders Little Duchie story SUS-201117-131933001Sid Saunders Little Duchie story SUS-201117-131933001
Sid Saunders Little Duchie story SUS-201117-131933001

“I visit the grave to give it a clean four times a year in spring, summer, autumn and winter.”

Sid literally stumbled on the grave stone, after accidentally ‘kicking a rock’ on a walk through the woods.

He said: “I looked closer and saw that it was a headstone covered in mould and moss.”

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He returned the next day with cleaning tools and revealed the inscription to Little Duchie.

Sid Saunders SUS-201117-131922001Sid Saunders SUS-201117-131922001
Sid Saunders SUS-201117-131922001

He said: “I felt I was looking at a piece of history. It was heartwarming to know the rabbit had been so loved by its family they had given it a proper burial and sophisticated headstone.

After conducting research, Sid discovered the wood had once been part of a huge private estate belonging to a wealthy local family. It is thought the grave is that of their pet Dutch rabbit.

Sid added: “I am a huge nature and animal lover, so it feels important for me to preserve it.

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“It’s unique and a lovely bit of history. The family clearly made this headstone out of love and I want to maintain that love. I hope when I am too old to do it someone else will continue to look after it.”